Sheriffs Speak Out Against Restricting Legal Gun Access

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Sheriffs Speak Out Against Restricting Legal Gun Access

At least one state agency has something to say about the ongoing gun debates.

The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association issued a statement Friday amid growing national and local gun debates, saying they recognize the dangers of guns, but do not want to specifically target legal gun owners.

The association “believes we must hold offenders responsible, not law abiding citizens” for gun violence, according to the statement.

“The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association “does support enforcement of the existing gun laws and the strengthening of current background checks,” the statement reads. “The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association does not support legislation that restricts current gun possession and current gun sales to our citizens that weakens our Second Amendment Rights.”

The statement comes the same day a University of Arkansas student accidentally shot himself in the hand on-campus while showing the gun to another student.

The university’s student government is considering separate gun resolutions, one of which would support concealed-carry on campus. Another one would support the restriction against guns on campus.

Guns are not allowed on the UA campus. The proposed UA student government measures are non-legally-binding resolutions.

The association’s statement in its entirety:

The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association supports the Constitution and the 2nd Amendment rights of our citizens. We recognize the recent increase in violence and mass shootings have raised questions relating to the sale and possession of firearms. The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association further believes that we must hold offenders responsible, not law abiding citizens.

The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association does support enforcement of the existing gun laws and the strengthening of current background checks, including identifying individuals with mental health issues. The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association does not support legislation that restricts current gun possession and current gun sales to our citizens that weakens our 2nd Amendment Rights.